8 Affordable Ways to Improve Your Kitchen

Published December 17, 2018

Your kitchen is the hub of your home. It’s not just where you prep meals, but it’s often a place of gathering and entertaining. Kitchens serve not only to eat in but to spend time in with friends and family. But if your kitchen is looking a little tired, it might be time to give it a bit of a facelift.

You might be a homeowner looking to spruce up your kitchen for your own needs, or you might be a seller who wants to improve the look of your kitchen to attract more buyers. Whatever your situation may be, there are plenty of ways to boost the aesthetics of your kitchen while sticking to a modest budget.

1. Hang New Light Fixtures

While you could easily change up all the lights in your kitchen, you can still make a big difference and stick to a lower budget by focusing on just one light fixture. Whether it’s a chandelier over your dining table or pendant lamps over your kitchen island, new light fixtures can really spruce up the look and feel of a kitchen. Not only that, but lights have a way of adding ambiance to any space, which you can tweak to your liking.

2. Replace the Faucet

Don’t underestimate the power of a sink and faucet in a kitchen. Homeowners spend a lot of time selecting the perfect faucet for their kitchens, not just for functionality, but also for looks. If your kitchen faucet is starting to look a little lackluster, consider swapping it for a new one. For around $100, you can get yourself a decent faucet that can make a big difference in the look and feel of your kitchen space.

3. Reface the Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Completely ripping down cabinets is a great way to make a massive difference in a kitchen, but that’s not always necessary. If your cabinets are in decent shape, sometimes all that might be needed is a new paint job. For very little money (but a bit more elbow grease), you can re-paint or re-stain the cabinet doors in a completely new color to make them look like they’ve been newly installed.

4. Paint the Backsplash

A change in color of the backsplash can add plenty of visual interest in the kitchen. If your kitchen currently has little more than drywall on the wall above your kitchen sink, consider painting it in a completely different color. Or else, consider taking things a step further and add a completely new material to the backsplash – such as peel-and-stick tiles – to change things up.

5. Paint an Accent Wall

If you want to add a pop of color to your kitchen but aren’t too keen on splashing it all over your kitchen, an accent wall can be all that’s needed to add some color. It’s a quick, easy, and affordable job to do. And if you decide that the color you painted no longer tickles your fancy in the near future, it doesn’t take much to repaint it in a completely different shade.

6. Change the Hardware

You might not think twice about the handles and knobs on your cabinet doors and drawers, but they play a big role in the overall aesthetics of your kitchen. If you’re looking for a quick, simple, and relatively cheap way to update your kitchen, changing the hardware would be a great place to start.

There are so many different styles, finishes, and colors available on the market that you can really put a unique spin on your kitchen decor by simply swapping the old hardware for newer pieces.

7. Spruce Up the Decor

Your kitchen doesn’t have to be limited to just fixtures to give it some personality. Don’t be afraid to play around with decor to breathe some life into your kitchen. Things such as table runners, wall art, pretty window treatments, and even area rugs can really make your kitchen stand out.

8. Replace the Countertop

Changing the countertop might seem like an expensive endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. These days, you can get yourself a beautiful granite or quartz countertop for a relatively affordable price.

Back in the day, natural stone counters may have been reserved for the wealthy, but these days, the prices have really come down. Granite countertops are now financially attainable for the average household, so you might want to consider swapping your old counter for something shiny and new for a few hundred bucks.

The Bottom Line

The kitchen is arguably one of the more important spaces in a home. Whether you’re just looking to update your kitchen for your own tastes or want to spruce it up to appeal to buyers, there are a few things you can do that are relatively affordable and easy to do to improve the look and feel of your kitchen without breaking the bank.